Method
The injectable (DMPA) in the Philippines
Quick answer
The injectable, or turok (Injection. In birth control talk, the DMPA shot every 3 months.), is a progestin shot every 13 weeks (about 3 months). In the Philippines it is sold as Depotrust and Lyndavel (medroxyprogesterone acetate). It is free at barangay health centers, subject to supply; privately the product costs from ₱99 plus the clinic's fee. Irregular bleeding is the most common side effect, and fertility can take up to about a year to return after the last shot.
Key facts
- How effective
- 96% in typical use, 99.8% when every shot is on time [src]
- How long
- 13 weeks per shot
- Brands
- Depotrust and Lyndavel (medroxyprogesterone acetate) [src]
- Free
- At barangay health centers and RHUs, subject to supply [src]
- Product price
- Lyndavel ₱99, Depotrust ₱140, injection fee not included [src]
- Shot at a private clinic
- ₱300 to ₱800 per shot [src]
Prices checked October 2026. Women's clinics may charge more as a package; one BGC clinic lists ₱900.
How the injectable works
DMPA (Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, the 3-monthly injection (Depotrust, Lyndavel).) is a progestin injected into the muscle of your arm or buttock. It stops your ovaries from releasing an egg and thickens the mucus at the cervix [src]. There is no estrogen, so it is an option for people who cannot take the combined pill, including breastfeeding mothers [src]. It does not protect against STIs [src].
Many Filipinas like it because it is private, low cost and needs no daily pill. Filipinas on Reddit often compare it with pills and the implant when choosing [src].
Starting your first shot
WHO says that if you get your first shot within 7 days of the start of your period, you need no backup. At any other time, if the provider is reasonably sure you are not pregnant, use condoms or avoid sex for the next 7 days [src].
Every 13 weeks: do not lose track
The next shot is due 13 weeks after the last one. WHO says the repeat shot can be given up to 4 weeks late without needing backup, and up to 2 weeks early [src]. If you are later than that, the provider checks you are not pregnant first.
Put the date in your phone, or use our next injection calculator, which works out your due date and the latest date and can add a calendar reminder.
Where to get the injectable and what it costs
- Free: barangay health centers, RHUs and DOH hospitals give DMPA free, subject to supply. Bring an ID; PhilHealth is not required [src].
- Private clinics: ₱300 to ₱800 per shot, including the injection [src]. Some clinics sell a package price [src].
- Buying the product yourself: Lyndavel and Depotrust are prescription medicines. If you buy one, a nurse, midwife or doctor still has to give the shot.
At the visit, the health worker asks about your health and last period, may check your blood pressure, then gives the shot. It takes a few minutes. Do not rub the spot afterwards.
Side effects: bleeding changes first
Changes to your period are the most common effect [src]. In the first months you may have irregular bleeding or spotting (Light bleeding between periods. Common in the first months on a pill.), sometimes for many days. After a few shots many people have no period at all. Both are expected and not harmful. Filipinas sharing DMPA stories on Reddit mention long spotting as the main complaint [src].
Weight. Unlike the pill, DMPA is the one method with evidence of weight gain in some users [TODO: source: DMPA weight gain (ACOG/FSRH)]. Not everyone gains, but it is worth knowing before you start. Read more in our weight gain guide.
Other effects can include headaches, breast tenderness and mood changes [src]. Long-term use can lower bone density slightly, which WHO says recovers after stopping [src]. A fever after the shot is not a typical listed effect, so see a provider if you have one. Log symptoms in the side effect tracker.
Get help soon if
Bleeding is very heavy or will not stop, you have severe headaches with vision changes, the injection site becomes hot, red and full of pus, or you think you are pregnant.
Stopping and when fertility returns
You cannot remove a shot once it is given, so its effects last until it wears off. Fertility can take up to about a year after the last shot to return, longer than after the pill, implant or IUD [src]. It does not cause permanent infertility. If you plan to get pregnant within a year or two, an implant, IUD or pill may suit you better. See fertility after stopping birth control.
Myths about the injectable
- "Walang regla means dirty blood stays inside." No. The hormone keeps the lining thin, so there is nothing building up [src].
- "It makes you baog." No. Fertility returns, just more slowly [src].
- "It is not for breastfeeding moms." It is. WHO's eligibility criteria allow it while breastfeeding [src].
Injectable vs the pill
| Method | Typical use | Perfect use | How often | Hormones | Breastfeeding | Free at health centers | Price range (PH) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injectable (DMPA) | 96% | 99.8% | Every 3 months | Progestin only | OK | Yes, subject to supply | ₱99 to ₱900 |
| Combined pill | 93% | 99.7% | Every day | Estrogen + progestin | Not in the first weeks | Yes, subject to supply | ₱53.25 to ₱1,437.50 |
| Progestin-only pill | 93% | 99.7% | Every day | Progestin only | OK | Yes, subject to supply | ₱161 to ₱642 |
| Implant | 99.9% | 99.9% | Every 3 to 10 years | Progestin only | OK | Yes, subject to supply | ₱200 to ₱10,500 |
Pregnancies per 100 women in the first year of use. Source: WHO Family Planning Handbook comparison table (Trussell data, also used in the CDC effectiveness chart). [src] Price ranges include product and clinic fees; health centers are free, subject to supply.
In typical use the injectable works better than the pill because there are only 4 dates a year to remember [src]. The pill has a quicker return to fertility and more predictable periods. The implant beats both on effectiveness. Try the find my method quiz to compare.
Three legal routes
Where to get it
The injectable is given by a health worker, so you go to a health center or clinic for each shot. Start free at your barangay health center, or book a consult if you have questions. Pick the route that suits you. For adults 18 and over.
Free at a health center
Barangay health centers, RHUs, DOH hospitals and Likhaan. Subject to supply.
See an OB-GYN in person
Clinic visit, prescription in hand. Bring it to any licensed pharmacy.
Online consult
A licensed doctor by video or chat. From ₱700 on some platforms.
Online consult options
For adults 18 and over. Fees are set by each provider and can change.
Frequently asked questions
Ano ang side effects ng turok?
Ang pinakakaraniwan ay pagbabago ng regla: spotting, irregular na pagdurugo, o tuluyang pagkawala ng regla. Puwede ring sumakit ang ulo o magbago ang timbang ng ilan. Kung nilalagnat ka pagkatapos ng turok, magpatingin sa health worker dahil hindi ito karaniwang epekto.
What if I am late for my next shot?
WHO says you can still get the next DMPA shot up to 4 weeks late without extra protection. If you are later than that, the provider will check you are not pregnant before giving it, and you may need condoms for 7 days. Use the injection calculator to keep track.
How long before I can get pregnant after stopping DMPA?
It can take up to about a year after your last shot for fertility to return, longer than with other methods. It does not cause permanent infertility.
Is it normal to have no period on the injectable?
Yes. Many people stop bleeding after a few shots. It is not harmful and blood does not build up inside.
How much is the injectable in the Philippines?
Free at health centers, subject to supply. Privately, Lyndavel is about ₱99 and Depotrust about ₱140 for the product alone, and private clinics charge about ₱300 to ₱800 for the shot.
This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or switching birth control.
Sources
- Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers, WHO and Johns Hopkins CCP
- Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use, World Health Organization
- Family planning / contraception methods (fact sheet), World Health Organization
- Injectable in the Philippines, Find My Method
- Free family planning services in the Philippines, ClinicFinderPH
- DOH reminds public family planning services are free at public hospitals, Daily Tribune, 12 Jul 2025
- Birth control methods and where to get them, PhilSTAR Life, 25 Sep 2024
- Ultimate birth control guide for Filipino women, Eluvo Health, Nov 2025
- When will fertility return after using hormonal contraception?, Patient.info
- Share your DMPA experience, r/beautytalkph